R E S O L U T I O N
 1-1           WHEREAS, The Sims Bayou Urban Nature Center in Houston offers
 1-2     significant educational, social, and recreational opportunities to
 1-3     a historic section of the Bayou City and thrives on the
 1-4     enthusiastic involvement of neighboring residents; and
 1-5           WHEREAS, This multipurpose facility occupies part of the land
 1-6     grant assigned in 1826 to John R. Harris, founder of the important
 1-7     early Texas community of Harrisburg; in the 1910s, the area around
 1-8     the nature center was developed as a suburb for Houston families
 1-9     who wanted a blend of city and country living; and
1-10           WHEREAS, A local group, the Greater Park Place Community
1-11     Development Corporation, created the Sims Bayou Urban Nature Center
1-12     in 1997 to serve a variety of community needs; one of its primary
1-13     functions is to provide recreational and after-school activities
1-14     for neighborhood children and hands-on environmental education
1-15     programs for area schools; among the most popular of its youth
1-16     programs is the Summer Nature Discovery Camp; and
1-17           WHEREAS, The community gardens at the nature center promote
1-18     sound nutrition as well as environmentally responsible cultivation
1-19     techniques; tended by volunteers, the gardens reflect the culinary
1-20     preferences of the neighborhood's ethnically diverse population,
1-21     which is composed today of Hispanic, Vietnamese, African, and Anglo
1-22     Americans; and
1-23           WHEREAS, In addition to the gardens, the picturesque grounds
1-24     of the nature center include a log cabin, barn, gazebo, pond,
 2-1     woodland trails, and wetlands; a delightful environment for bird
 2-2     and butterfly watching, the center also offers canoe and boat rides
 2-3     on Sims Bayou; moreover, the public is encouraged to use the
 2-4     facility for gatherings such as picnics, family reunions, and
 2-5     weddings; and
 2-6           WHEREAS, Amidst the restorative serenity of this urban oasis,
 2-7     the staff, volunteers, and patrons of the Sims Bayou Urban Nature
 2-8     Center are engaged in a mission to teach good stewardship of the
 2-9     natural world, to fortify community bonds, and to provide safe and
2-10     constructive activities for the area's young people, and it is a
2-11     pleasure at this time to honor such an outstanding enterprise; now,
2-12     therefore, be it
2-13           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 77th Texas
2-14     Legislature hereby recognize the educational, social, and
2-15     recreational contributions of the Sims Bayou Urban Nature Center
2-16     and extend sincere best wishes to all those associated with it for
2-17     continued success in this worthy undertaking.
                                                                     Noriega
                                             _______________________________
                                                   Speaker of the House
               I certify that H.R. No. 748 was adopted by the House on May
         11, 2001, by a non-record vote.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Chief Clerk of the House